4-H 710A Updated 10/2018 Indiana 4-H Cake Decorating Skills and Techniques Youth and their mentor/volunteer leader/instructor should use this chart as a guide when deciding appropriate skills to incorporate in a decorated cake for exhibit While this list is a guide, it is not meant to be an all-inclusive list and youth should demonstrate skills they are most comfortable mastering For example, some youth in the intermediate level might feel comfortable attempting advanced level skills, but it is unlikely a beginner level exhibitor will be able to successfully master the advanced level skills Exhibited cakes must demonstrate the minimum five techniques from their given level but may also include higher/lower level techniques that have been mastered Any higher/lower level techniques will not be counted as part of the minimum five, but nevertheless will be evaluated for quality Youth are encouraged to utilize a number of resources such as web sites, print material, social media, and television shows when learning cake decorating skills Skills learned from these types of resources may be demonstrated provided they are age/grade appropriate The X indicates suggested level to learn respective skill Beginner Intermediate Advanced Skill Icing Achieve proper consistency of icing for frosting the X cake Tablespoon imprint X Teaspoon swirl X Coloring Techniques (only one coloring technique can be counted toward the minimum 5) Basic color blending X Deep color effects Painting “C” motion Balls Bead Dots Leaf Loop Pull dots Pullout star Rosette Ruffle border Ruffle leaf Shell with star tip Shell with writing tip (beads) Star Star puff Stripes Vines Wavy lines Zigzag X X Borders and Side Decorations X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Adapted from University of Wyoming Zigzag puff Brush embroidery “e” motion “S” scroll Horizontal “C” Plume Puff Reverse shell Ribbon Rope Ruffle Zigzag puff Leaf and drop flower Rosette and star Shell and flute “S” scroll and drop flower Dot and heart Puff and drop flower Shell puff and ruffle or zigzag Basket weave Bow trimmed strings Crown Drop strings Fleur-de-lis Flower and vine Lambeth method Ribbon and ball fringe Ribbon swag Shirred ribbon and shell String lace Triple drop strings Zigzag garland and ruffle X X X X X X X X X X X X Combination Borders and Side Decorations X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Leaves Holly Plain leaf Ruffled leaf Stand up leaf Violet leaf X X X X X X X X X Flowers Drop flowers, one squeeze star Drop flowers, swirl Free hand (star tip) Petals Ribbon rose Rosette Rosette with star center Shaggy mum Star puffs X X X X X X X X X Adapted from University of Wyoming Stars X Variety (writing tip) X Zinnia X Rosebud X X Sweet pea X X Bleeding heart X Half carnation X Half rose X Lilly of the valley X Other flat surface flowers X Apple blossom X Aster X Bachelor button X Brown-eyed susan – daisy variation X Chrysanthemum X Daffodil and jonquil X Daisy X X Dogwood X Forget-me-not X Full carnation X Narcissus X Pansy X Poinsettia X Poppy X Rose X Sunflower X X Violet X Wild rose X Other flat flower nail X Bluebell California poppy Easter lily Morning glory Nasturtium Petunia Other lily nail flowers Lettering (only one lettering technique can be counted toward the minimum 5) Dots X Lettering forms – fill in with dots or lines X X Printing X X Script (cursive) X Special Effects Combing X Grass, fur or hair X X Outline and star fill in X Paper pattern X Star filled pattern X Stencil applications X X Color striping – either brush or spatula X X Color flow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Adapted from University of Wyoming Comelli lace Figure piping Haystacks Lattice design Pine cones Pine needles and cat whiskers Piping gel Royal icing lace Sotas Sugar mold, solid Trees Wheat Airbrushing or painting Austrian lace Candy clay Chocolate molding – flowers Chocolate molding – leaves Fondant, cooked Fondant, rolled, cake covering Fondant, rolled, flowers and decorations Gum paste Loops Marzipan Pulled sugar Sculptured cake Sugar mold, hollow Sugar paste Quilling Wires with assorted decorations attached Other advanced skills X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Adapted from University of Wyoming